Nascar Changes Schedule

Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:17 pm

Dover to move May NASCAR races back to June for 2012

By Bob PockrassWednesday, June 22, 2011RSS FeedPrint this ArticleEmail to a FriendIncrease Text Size

Four-tire call proves to be wrong move for Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer at DoverMatt Kenseth gambles on pit strategy to win Sprint Cup race at DoverHOT PASS: Faces at the track at Dover International SpeedwayDover International Speedway, which has had soft attendance at its May NASCAR races the last two years, will return to its more traditional June weekend in 2012.

The track announced Wednesday that it will have its spring NASCAR weekend June 1-3 in 2012 – the week following Memorial Day.

The spring weekend will be a tripleheader with the NASCAR Truck, Nationwide and Cup series all competing.

Track officials are hoping that the new date will not conflict with high school and college graduation weekends and help make the Dover races a summer vacation destination.

“Fans have been asking for a return to our June date, and we appreciate NASCAR’s help to meet their requests,” said Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Motorsports. “We’re also excited about offering new and lower ticket price options for our loyal fans next year.”

NASCAR plans to have two off weekends in its 2012 Cup schedule – Easter and one other weekend. If it has an off weekend after May, it will have to move one of the races currently in scheduled for June, July or August to March, April or May.

Dover also announced that it will have its 2012 fall race weekend Sept. 28-30, which, if NASCAR follows its current schedule, would be the third race in the Chase.